The Mystery of Tonzanga

The Mystery Of Tonzonga - Chapter - 2

Chapter 2: Two Bodies, One Soul

Ken stood frozen in the police archives, the weight of the decade-old mystery of Flame heavy on his mind. But before he could fully process it, a call came in-another policeman had been kidnapped. The witness description sent a chill down his spine: the kidnappers wore black masks and dark clothing.

Flame, Ken thought, the name echoing in his mind like a dark omen.

He wasted no time rushing to the scene. When he arrived, he was met with a chilling sight-a policeman bound to a chair, pleading for help. Ken's heart raced, his instincts screamed at him to act. The sight of a fellow officer in distress ignited a fire within him, fueling his determination to rescue the man.

But as he pushed open the door, he realized the room was empty. Panic surged through him. Where had the kidnappers gone? How could they slip away so easily? Just then, Jim, ever sharp, spotted a shadow flitting past the window. Without hesitation, he darted outside, determined to chase the figure down.

As Jim pursued the shadow, Ken's thoughts spiraled. What if they were already too late? What if they failed? The fear of losing another friend gnawed at him, a familiar ache that had haunted him since Toby's disappearance. They brought the man they caught to Ken's office, desperate for answers.

Ken interrogated him relentlessly, his heart racing. At first, the man resisted, but under pressure, he began to crack. Just as he was about to reveal the leader of Flame, a sound outside drew Ken's attention-a sudden thud that shattered the tension in the air.

Ken rushed outside, his heart pounding. The figure he'd been so close to capturing had vanished. Only a haunting silence remained. He searched frantically for Jim, but the dread of losing another friend loomed over him.

Moments later, Ken arrived at a hidden location where he felt a flicker of hope. Tied to a chair in the middle of the room was Dan, his friend-the very man who had helped Tim. Dan's face was bruised, and he looked weary, yet his spirit remained unbroken. "Ken, don't come any closer. It's a trap!" he warned, his voice trembling.

Ignoring Dan's warning, Ken rushed forward and cut him free, relief flooding over him. Jim, who had accompanied him, helped Dan out of the room. But as they left, a voice echoed through the shadows, chilling Ken to his core.

"My friend, how are you?"

Ken turned to see a man step out from the darkness, removing his mask. Ken's heart stopped. It was Toby, his childhood best friend-the man he thought had died two years ago. Toby, the friend who had vanished without a trace.

Ken's mind flashed back to the day it all changed.

Flashback - Two Years Ago

Ken and Toby had been inseparable since childhood. They worked together in a food delivery service, always laughing, always planning for the future. After every shift, they'd splurge on a meal at a five-star hotel, sharing stories over lunch and dinner.

But one day, Toby didn't show up for work. When Ken went to his house, he found signs of a struggle. Toby was gone. Ken had rushed to the police station, filing a missing persons report. Two days later, the police came back with devastating news: Toby had been found, but he was dead. His body had been burned beyond recognition. Ken had refused to believe it, never even seeing the body himself.

Back in the present, Ken's emotions boiled over. "Are you... are you the gangster now?" Ken asked, his voice filled with disbelief and pain. "Are you the leader of Flame?"

Toby shook his head, his expression grim. "No, Ken. I'm not the leader. I'm just a worker."

Ken's fists clenched. "Then what happened to you? Why did you disappear?"

Toby's eyes darkened. "After I was taken, I was forced to work for Flame. I became their hacker, stealing data, hacking systems, doing whatever the leader commanded."

"Who is the leader?" Ken demanded, desperate for answers.

But just as Toby opened his mouth to speak, a sudden gun shot , a silence fell between them. Ken felt the weight of the world crashing down, his heart aching with the fear of losing his friend again.

The chapter closes with Ken standing alone at Toby's grave. The sun set low on the horizon as Ken's voice broke the silence.

"I'll avenge you, Toby," he whispered. "I swear, I'll kill Flame for what they did to you."

With that, Ken turned and walked away, his mind filled with nothing but vengeance.